❛ Excessively Detailed Headcanons !!
2. Do they have any daily rituals ?
He does ! Pat’s daily rituals do vary a little as far as when he gets them done, but they consist of daily worship, reading his email, studying, reading at least a chapter in whatever book he’s picked up, and a few other mundane things, like checking his calendar, cleaning, calling Josie or Karen or Garrett, things like that.
4. What would they do if they needed to make dinner but the kitchen was busy ?
The short answer is he’d kick Briseis out with the threat of not making her anything, but they both know he won’t hold to the threat. So he’d probably just shuffle through the kitchen around Briseis while she sat on the island watching him or maybe helping if it’s something she knows how to make. Typically the two make dinner together anyway if they’re both off work or home in enough time to do so !
6. Eating habits and sample daily menu.
Patroclus’ eating habits aren’t exactly the healthiest. Between med school and work, he manages to eat out a lot more than he’d like to. He also manages to accidentally skip breakfast about seventy-five percent of the time. That said, he doesn’t eat a whole lot of junk foods. He’s health conscious enough to tell himself he probably needs to eat better, but then he manages not to do it, though not for lack of trying. As for a daily menu, lunch is usually something light like a sandwich or soup despite his uncanny ability to completely overlook breakfast. Then dinner is usually something a little more substantial and changes based on what he and Briseis agree on. Sometimes dinner is takeout and then sometimes it’s a home cooked meal that one of them or both have made.
8. Favorite indulgence and feelings surrounding indulging.
Patroclus has a couple of different indulgences. The first: kourabiedes, because his grandmother makes them every time he visits and has since he was little ( they were his favorite thing when he was little and she sticks to making them almost religiously ) so he has absolutely zero guilt in indulging in them. He’s pretty sure it would hurt her feelings if he didn’t. The second: Lokma. Specifically Briseis’, because she covers it in melted dark chocolate. Pat’s weak for dark chocolate. ( Sometimes she’ll add powdered sugar and coconut if he’s feeling a little down or if they’re celebrating something. )
Both are comfort foods, so his feelings surrounding indulging in them are pretty positive. It could have a lot to do with the fact that he doesn’t have them often, but he doubts it a little. He’s not convinced there would be any guile even if he did indulge in them often.
10. Neuroses ? Do they recognize them as such ?
Patroclus suffers from generalized anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. He was diagnosed with each at different times in his life, but also fairly close together all things considered. For one, the PTSD was diagnosed when he was twelve, not long after his mother’s murder. The generalized anxiety was diagnosed a little over a year after that, so he certainly recognizes them as what they are.
12. Favorite book genre ?
When it comes to reading, Pat leans a little more toward classics than anything else, because he remembers when some of them were written. It makes him a little nostalgic. However, he also leans toward modern fantasy novels or mystery novels. Sometimes something a little easier to read than classics, especially if it’s while classes are in session.
14. Physical abnormalities ? ( Both visible and not, including injuries/disabilities, long-term illnesses, food-intolerances, etc. )
As far as physical abnormalities go, Patroclus doesn’t really have any aside from a thin scar on his chest and a thicker one between his shoulder blades, both of which he got when he was younger. He does have an odd food intolerance when it comes to okra, but that’s more of a texture problem than it is an actual intolerance. He could eat it and it not make a difference. He really can’t handle the texture though.
16. Biggest and smallest long term goal ?
His biggest long term goal right now is opening his own practice when he gets through med school and residency ( which, this could change a little, but this is where he’s at right now ) and his smallest is getting his student loans paid off as quickly as he possibly can.
Pat’s favorite beverage is chai tea. It’s good iced, it’s good hot, it’s good as a latte, it’s good sweetened or not. What more could he ask for, really ?
20. Childhood illnesses ? Any interesting stories behind them ?
Patroclus, despite being vaccinated, had chickenpox as a child. It was incredibly uncomfortable and he felt miserable ( especially so when his temperature spiked ), but he also remembers being glad that his father wouldn’t go anywhere near him when he had it. By extension, the man wouldn’t go anywhere near his mother either because she was always in such close proximity to Patroclus the entire time he was sick. So despite being absolutely miserable physically, mentally and emotionally he was the happiest he’d ever been.
22. Given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and nothing to do, what would happen ?
He would just doodle on the paper. Little things, probably, because he’s never practiced drawing anything other than diagrams and cells and other things for classes. He might manage to scribble down some of the things he’s learned or he might just practice his signature until the paper is filled completely with his name. It’s a matter of circumstance, really. Whether or not he’s been studying might play a part in it. That said, it could also just be lines or some literal scribbles if he’s tired.
24. Is there one subject of study that they excel at ? Or do they even care about intellectual pursuits at all ?
Patroclus would like to think that he does excel when it comes to things like Biology and Chemistry and Medicine, but he knows very well that he really excels when it comes to History, if only because he’s lived and remembers a lot of that. But if the question is about things he doesn’t have an unfair advantage on, then definitely Medicine. Intellectual pursuits, as a whole, are definitely important to him if only because he’s one of those that likes to learn new things, regardless of what they are.
26. Do they have any plans for the future ? Any contingency plans if things don’t workout ?
He does, which consist of becoming a doctor, but that’s about as far in his planning as he’s gotten. He has absolutely zero contingency plans, so he hopes and prays that Plan A is the only plan he needs.
28. Who do they see as their best friend ? Their worst enemy ?
30. Reaction to sudden intrapersonal disaster. ( e.g. close family member suddenly dies. )
32. Thoughts on material possessions in general ?
Pat isn’t a super materialistic person, but he is sentimental which typically leads to him having a hard time getting rid of things like his first pair of glasses even though his prescription’s since changed. It also keeps him from getting rid of the illustrated copy of The Iliad that his mom got him without his father knowing when he first told her about his memories. He isn’t materialistic, but there are things he holds on to.
34. Thoughts on privacy ? ( Are they a private person, or are they prone to ‘TMI’ ? )
Patroclus is a private person through and through. Being too open with people makes him fairly uncomfortable unless he’s close to them and even then he isn’t very open about things that are usually considered “ TMI ” because he’s very easily embarrassed or flustered. Privacy as a whole is also really important to Pat, because it was something he had precious little of until he was adopted by the Alton’s.
36. What makes them feel guilty ?
He’s actually made to feel guilty pretty easily. If he thinks that he’s bothering someone or that he’s managed to unload all of his problems onto them, he feels guilty about it. This is the number one reason he does his absolute best to keep his emotions in check ( even if he isn’t very good at it ). He’s getting better about understanding that talking things out with people doesn’t necessarily equate to unloading his problems on them, but it’s a slow process and he talks to very few people about what’s bothering him, even among close friends. He’s also guilty over typical things like if he thinks he’s upset someone or if he forgot to turn a light off or if he forgot to leave Briseis a note if he was unable to get ahold of her or if he drinks the last cup of coffee, etc.
38. Would they consider themselves a Type A or Type B personality ?
Type A in regard to work ethic and stress levels, but Type B in regard to temperament. He manages to stress himself out to the max over assignments and exams and the like, but he doesn’t lash out and get angry at other people over it. He’s very mild-tempered.
40. Would you say that they have a superiority-complex ? Inferiority-complex ? Neither ?
Patroclus definitely struggled with an inferiority-complex for some time, probably from middle school to undergrad, but as he got through his freshman year of college and started his sophomore year, he started to come out of it. Briseis was a lot of help in that regard. At this point, he doesn’t have one, though his confidence occasionally slips and that causes a pretty good scare on his part from time to time.
Does studying count as a hobby ? Because he’s good at that. Really, though, Patroclus likes to read. He also cares for a number of houseplants all through his and Briseis’ apartment. He and Briseis both cook. He thought about taking up knitting one winter because Briseis refused to wear or even purchase a scarf. The idea was tabled though when Josie gave her one as a gift and Bris decided she had to wear it.
Pat follows Hellenismos, which is the traditional religion of ancient Greece. However, it’s also a reconstructed religion, meaning it’s been adapted to the modern world. But because so much of the ancient practices have been lost to time, the absence of worship by groups in most places, and a couple of other differences, it’s not entirely a reconstructed religion by exact definition. It’s based a lot on scholarly research done of what has been found of ancient practices. There are two branches of Hellenismos: Traditional and Reformed. Specifically, he follows the branch of the religion that’s considered Traditional Hellenismos, meaning he practices as closely to the ancient practice as possible in this time period. That said, Pat’s first– and most vivid– life was lived during the time that ancient practices were used, so he remembers some of them and implements what he can. ( He’d be lying if he said the disuse of living sacrifices made the practice seem any lesser. He’s rather glad killing things to sacrifice to the gods isn’t common practice anymore. )
46. Do they express their thoughts through words or deeds ?
Both ! Patroclus isn’t always the best at articulating himself in a way that gets across exactly how he’s feeling, but he does his best to show his gratitude with words first. If he struggles with that, then deeds are definitely next on the list. Now, the deed itself will depend on what the other person has done for him, but he never wants to seem ungrateful. Because honestly he isn’t. If someone does something nice for him or gifts him something, etc. he appreciates it. A lot.
It’s much the same with other thoughts and emotions, though he’s more likely to express anger or irritation through words if someone really pisses him off. You might get the cold shoulder if it’s something minor, because he doesn’t like to risk saying something that he’ll regret later on down the line.
48. How do they express love ?
Okay, so I know that I’ve established the fact that Patroclus is a very private person in general, unless you’re someone that’s very close to him. The way he expresses love is very much the same. He expresses it privately, in ways that maybe only the person he’s expressing it to picks up on it. This is with all types of love, be it platonic or romantic. Things differ a little though with each, obviously. So, if Pat is trying to express love to his romantic partner, he’s much more likely to initiate physical contact or to express it verbally and directly. However, that’s all still super private, because he’s not one for PDA. Small things are fine in public, but much other than hand holding, quick kisses, or hug and he starts to get a little uncomfortable. But there will always be feather-light touches or certain looks that he’ll offer his partner that he wouldn’t anyone else. When it comes to his platonic relationships, he’ll offer comfort when they need it, late night talks about this or that, total concern, and things of that nature. Patroclus is the type of person that loves with every fiber of his being or he doesn’t. So everything he does with or for his friends and lover will be done because he wholeheartedly loves each of them.
50. Is this person afraid of dying ? Why or why not ?
Patroclus obviously has a very complicated relationship with death. Stemming from that, he’s both afraid and not afraid, because on the one hand it seems he’ll always come back, but on the other hand there’s the question of what happens if he doesn’t ? He’s devout when it comes to his religious beliefs, so he knows where he’ll be, but where in Hades will he be going specifically ? He doesn’t know and that scares him. It’s also a little scary, finding all of the friends he has now and wondering if he’ll see them the next time he’s reborn or will it be another thousand years ? And will he remember them then or the next time ? Or will he ever remember them again ? He has a lot of unanswerable questions and those are what scare him more than the prospect of death itself.